Fuel hopper for automatic stokers



oct. 30,1923. l 1,472,427

J. D. CAMPBELL FUEL HOFPER FOR AUTOMATIC STOKERS Filed July 24. 1922 2sheets-sheet 1 @trouw/sp oct. 30,1923. 1,472,427

J. D. CAMPBELL FUEL HOPPER FOR AUTOMATIC STOKEHS Filed July 24, 1922 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. CAMPBELL, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT TOKER COM-PANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATIGN OF MICHIGAN.

FUEL EOPPER FOR AUTOMATIC STOKERS.

Application filed July 24, 1922. Serial No. 577,132.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the co-unty of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented cer- 0 drawings.

The invention relates to hoppers and more particularly to fuel hoppersfor automatic stokers.

In delivering fuel to a furnace by means of an automatic Stoker, thefuel hopper sometimes becomes clogged or choked and it is desir-able totake care of such a contingency by provision of a normally closedopening in the hopper that will permit a slice bar or similar tool to bethrust into the contents of the hopper to loosen and break the same. Itis further desirable in case the obstruction does not yield to suchmethods to provide for readily removing u all or a portion of the fuelfrom the hopper.

It is the object of the invention to provide a fuel hopper for anautomatic Stoker having an openingr provided with two closures. one ofwhich is relatively small and hinged or otherwise adapted for quicklyopening when it is desired to use a slice bar or the like while theother has the nature of a plate having no provision for adjust-- mentbut adapted to be completely removed either with or without the smallerclosure when it is desired to provide a relatively large opening forremoving fuel from the hopper.-

It is an important feature of the invention that the opening controlledby the smaller closure is positioned so as to aord no egress to the fuelin the hop-per.

The invention consists in the structural features and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described.

Tn the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a front portion oftheljmproved hopper. the plane of section being indicated at 1 1 inFigure 2.

Figure 2 vis a front view of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line lf3 of Figure 2, showingin dash lines the opened position of the smaller closure;

Figure 4 is a cross section view online 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the larger closure;

Figure 6 is a top view of the smaller closure;

Figure 7 is an end view of the same;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 but omitting the closures.

In these views the reference character 1 designates a front wall of thefuel hopper of an automatic Stoker` and 2 the side walls of said hopper.The walls 1 and 2 may be rigidly connected in any suitable manner, bolts3 being employed for that purpose inthe illustrated embodiment of theinvention. The walls 1, 2 and Bare inclined', as is common practice inhopper construction. In the lower portion of the wall 1 there is formedan opening-4 of sulficient size to permit aready removal of fue] fromthe hopper when said opening is clear. Along the side edges of saidopening the wall 1 is formed with integral forwardly projectingr ribs 5which taper gradually toward said wall from top to bottom. The forwardedges of said ribs .are Hanged'toward each other, as indicated at 6 andseats are thusformed for the side margins of a removable plate '7' whichnormally closes the major port-ion of the opening 4'. Said plate' 7,however. is forwardly spaced from the upper edge of the opening 4 thusforming a. comparatively small opening which when clear permitsinsertion into the hopper of a slice bar or other tool for the purposeof loosening or breaking up the fuel. This relatively small top openingis controlled by a closure 8 adapted to normally seat upon the top edgesofthe ribs 5. the forward edge of said closure being` pivotedto permitadjustment tothe dash line open position shown in Figure 3. Itiis to beobserved that the location `of the top openingis such that when' theclosure'8 is open.' a tool may be inserted downwardly and inwardly toloosen any` obstruction at the bottom of the hoppenwithout allowingfuelto escape from the opening. The closure 8 is integrally formedadjacent its respective ends with forwardly projecting lugs 9` carryingaligned opppsitely 'projecting pins 10, and pins 11 Vpro1ectin1r towardeach other, as is best seenin Figure 6r The pins 1,0 are adapted 11. Afuel hopper having en inclined Wall and having a lower portion o'l saidWall out wurdiy elise-L and spaced at its top from the main body oi"said Well to form a downward opening for introduction of a tool torelieve choking Within the hopper, and a closure for said openingpivoted upon said out.- Wardly offset portion.

Y l2. A fuel hopper having an opening in its lower portion, the sideedges of said opening being downwardly convergent, ribs outwardlyprojecting upon the hopper respec- JOHN D. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

MABEL A. VINKEL, F. B. STRALE.

